Margaret Fafa Akwetey is a Lecturer in the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. She has a PhD in Oceanography and Limnology, with specialisation in benthic ecology. Margaret worked as a Research Assistant/Teaching Associate at the University of Cape Coast since 2013 until her appointment as a Lecturer in 2021. She is passionate about education and outreach, and has led several community initiatives which introduced children to marine organisms. Margaret is involved in teaching and supervision at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Dr. (Mrs.) Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey
About
Focus & expertise
Specializations
Academic interests · number = colleagues who share it
Recent activity
🧪
Project
May 2025
Environmental education towards the protection of biodiversity in the Brenu Lagoon, Ghana
🎓
Fellowship
Jan 2025
2025 POGO-OceanX-OceanQuest Fellowship for Shipboard Training on the Around Africa mission aboard the OceanXplorer
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Conference
Oct 2024
Global Development Conference 2023
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Project
Oct 2024
Through a child’s eye - A snapshot of marine biodiversity. British Ecological Society Outreach Grant (Grant number: OR24/1039).
🧪
Project
Oct 2024
An ecological assessment of selected sandy beaches in Ghana using benthic macrofauna and micro-plastics as Indicators. African Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) small grant
Background
🎓 Education & qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography and Limnology
University of Cape Coast
2020
Master of Philosophy in Oceanography and Limnology
University of Cape Coast
2013
Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
University of Cape Coast
2009
Teaching & projects
My teaching philosophies are grounded in pragmatism and inquiry-based teaching. I believe education should be holistic and equip students with the needed skills and knowledge that are applicable beyond the classroom.
Projects
🧪
Through a child’s eye - A snapshot of marine biodiversity. British Ecological Society Outreach Grant (Grant number: OR24/1039).
Project Lead (Grantee)
September 2024 - Present
🧪
Assessment of the impacts of beach seine fishery on benthic communities along the central coast of Ghana - Funded by the PADI Foundation
Principal Investigator
April 2022 - October 2023
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Assessment of the impacts of beach seine fishery on benthic biodiversity along the coastline of Ghana - Funded by the National Geographic Society
Project Lead (Grantee)
March 2022 - Present
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Assessment of Ecosystem Based Livelihoods on Biodiversity of the Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site - Funded by the Global Development Network under the Biodiversity and Development Awards
Principal Investigator
October 2021 - Present
🧪
An ecological assessment of selected sandy beaches in Ghana using benthic macrofauna and micro-plastics as Indicators. African Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) small grant
Co-Investigator
September 2021 - November 2022
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Environmental education towards the protection of biodiversity in the Brenu Lagoon, Ghana
ASLO Global Outreach Initiative Award
August 2021 - October 2021
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Assessing the role of different types of knowledge for mainstreaming biodiversity conservation in Ramsar sites in Fiji and Ghana. AFD-GDN Biodiversity and Development Award
Project Lead for Ghana
August 2021 - Present
🧪
Environmental Education towards the Protection of Biodiversity in the Brenu Lagoon, Ghana - Funded by the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) under their Global Outreach Initiative (GOI)
Principal Investigator
June 2021 - July 2022
🧪
A study on marine plastic pollution in Liberia (Consultancy) - Client: Conservation International
Team member (Aquatic ecologist)
March 2021 - April 2021
Publications 17 works
2026
A Situational Analysis of Small-Scale Fisheries in West Africa: From Vulnerability to Viability
Shehu Latunji Akintola, Denis W. Aheto, Aliou Sall, Evans Arizi et al.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Article · Source: OpenAlex
A Situational Analysis of Small-Scale Fisheries in West Africa: From Vulnerability to Viability
Shehu Latunji Akintola, Denis W. Aheto, Aliou Sall, Evans Arizi et al.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Article · Source: OpenAlex
Impact of beach seining on macroalgae biomass and biodiversity on the central coast of Ghana before and after closed season
Paul Kojo Mensah, Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey, Naomi Aku Agboli, Gertrude Tibu
Regional Studies in Marine Science · Article · Source: OpenAlex + ORCID
XXXXXXSAssessment of the factors that influence the choice of wetland-based livelihoods in the keta lagoon complex Ramsar site (KLCRS) of South-eastern Ghana
Prince Prah, Precious Agbeko Dzorgbe Mattah, Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey, Sika Abrokwah et al.
Discover Sustainability · Article · Source: OpenAlex
2025
Toxicity of Commonly Used Plasticizers to the Freshwater Organisms Tilapia sparrmanii (Fish) and Caridina nilotica (Shrimp): Lethal and Sublethal Effects
Paul Kojo Mensah, Neil Griffin, Ntombekhaya Mgaba, Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey et al.
Environmental Toxicology · Article · 3 citations · Source: OpenAlex + ORCID
Juvenile Species in Beach Seine Bycatch Along the Coast of Ghana: Any Implications for Fisheries?
Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey, Charles Abimbola Faseyi, Paul Kojo Mensah, Sika Abrokwah et al.
Marine Ecology · Article · 1 citation · Source: OpenAlex + ORCID
Assessment of the Factors that Influence the Choice of Wetland-Based Livelihoods in the Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site (KLCRS) of South-eastern Ghana
Prince Prah, Precious Agbeko Dzorgbe Mattah, Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey, Sika Abrokwah et al.
Research Square · Preprint · Source: OpenAlex
2024
Benthic macroinvertebrates as indicators of water quality: A case study of estuarine ecosystems along the coast of Ghana
Dorothy Khasisi Lukhabi, Paul Kojo Mensah, Noble Kwame Asare, Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey et al.
Heliyon · Article · 13 citations · Source: OpenAlex
Perspectives on Drivers of Biodiversity and Environmental Changes in the Keta Lagoon Ramsar Site of Ghana
Precious Agbeko Dzorgbe Mattah, Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey, Sika Abrokwah, Prince Prah et al.
Sustainability · Article · 7 citations · Source: OpenAlex
Effective toxicity of pH to embryonic development of the banded lampeye killifish Aplocheilichthys spilauchen (Duméril, 1861)
Paul Kojo Mensah, Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey
Heliyon · Article · 3 citations · Source: OpenAlex + ORCID
2023
Achieving sustainable source reduction of marine litter for ocean conservation in West Africa: Insights from single-use plastic consumers in Liberia
Sika Abrokwah, Ivy S.G. Akuoko, Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey, Mike Izava Olendo et al.
Marine Policy · Article · 7 citations · Source: OpenAlex
Before and after closed season for beach seine fishing in Ghana: Impact on benthic macroinvertebrates species diversity indices
Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey, Paul Kojo Mensah, Gertrude Tibu, Naomi Aku Agboli et al.
Marine Ecology · Article · 3 citations · Source: OpenAlex + ORCID
Environmental education toward the protection of biodiversity in a coastal lagoon in Ghana
Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey, Sika Abrokwah
Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin · Article · 3 citations · Source: OpenAlex
Caridina nilotica Biomarker Sensitivity Distribution for Roundup ® : Towards Derivation of Water Quality Guideline Values
Paul Kojo Mensah, Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey, Ntombekhaya Mgaba, Oghenekaro Nelson Odume
Research Square · Preprint · Source: OpenAlex
2021
Towards Conservation of Coastal Wetlands: An Assessment of The Ecological Health Status of A Neglected Lagoon In Ghana
Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey, Sika Abrokwah, Richard Adade, Gertrude Lucky Aku Dali et al.
Research Square · Preprint · 2 citations · Source: OpenAlex + ORCID
2019
Ecological Assessment of Some Coastal Lagoons and Estuaries in Ghana: Abiotic and Biotic Approaches
Dissertation thesis · Source: ORCID
2015
Comparative study of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities of two estuaries on the Southwestern Coast of Ghana
Journal article · Source: ORCID
OpenAlex updated 10 Sep 2026
Engagements
📅 Conferences attended
2019
2nd Conference on Fisheries and Coastal Environment
Presenter · Accra, Ghana
2017
24th Biennial Conference, Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation
Participant · Providence, USA
2022
Sustainable Research and Innovation Congress
Panelist · Pretoria, SA
2024
22nd Annual FishBase Consortium on the theme Fishes in Changing Ecosystems
Presenter · Thessaloniki, Greece (Online)
2024
2024 Ocean Sciences Meeting
Presenter · New Orleans, USA (Online)
2023
West Africa Marine Science Symposium (WAMSS)
Presenter · Accra, Ghana
2024
Global Development Conference 2023
Panallist · Quito, Ecuador (Online)
Honors & affiliations
🏅
National Geographic Explorer
National Geographic Society · 2022
🏅
AFD-GDN Biodiversity and Development Award
Global Development Network (GDN) - New Delhi, India · 2021
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ASLO Global Outreach Initiative Award
Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography · 2021
🏅
PhD scholarship
USAID/UCC Fisheries and Coastal Management Capacity Building Support Project · 2015
🏅
Master Students Field Research Grant
Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance Initiative (ICFG) · 2011
🎓
2025 POGO-OceanX-OceanQuest Fellowship for Shipboard Training on the Around Africa mission aboard the OceanXplorer
Margaret Fafa Awushie Akwetey · 2025
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Member
Mothers in Science · 2024
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Member
National Geographic Society · 2022
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Member
University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) · 2021
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Member
British Ecological Society (BES) · 2021
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Member
Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) · 2021
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Member
Ghana Association of University Women (GAUW) · 2017
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Member
Ghana Science Association (GSA) · 2014
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Member
Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) · 2013
Colleagues & frequently viewed together
Prof. Joseph Aggrey-Fynn
Professor · Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
›
Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto
Professor · Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
›
Dr. Emmanuel Acheampong
Senior Lecturer · Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
›
Prof. Isaac Okyere
Associate Professor · Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
›
Dr. Paul Kojo Mensah
Senior Lecturer · Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
›
Prof. Edward Adzesiwor Obodai
Professor · Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
›
Prof. Edward Adzesiwor Obodai
Professor · Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
›
Dr. Michelle Naa Kordei Clottey Sackey
Lecturer · Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
›
Prof. Isaac Okyere
Associate Professor · Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
›
Dr. Emmanuel Acheampong
Senior Lecturer · Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
›
Dr. Paul Kojo Mensah
Senior Lecturer · Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
›
Dr. Kwadwo Kesse Mireku
Senior Lecturer · Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
›
